Sunday, July 25
Shavua tov!
We had a beautiful Shabbat in Machane Stone! Shabbat began with all the cohorts davening together in Indoor World, outside as the sun was setting. The scene could not have been more picturesque. The zemirot and dancing took place there too, so we could all be together in a COVID-safe way. The fresh air and wide space gave our singing and dancing a particularly beautiful ruach, even more spirited than usual.
On Shabbat, all chanichim also enjoyed their first meeting with their chavruta (or study partner). The high staff-camper ratio at Machane Stone gives us a unique opportunity, each tzevet member and madrich/a is paired with two campers to learn with, after lunch, Shabbat afternoon. It is a highlight of the week for so many!
This morning, in daily shiur, the chanichim studied the idea that “the Torah is not in heaven,” that the Torah is accessible to everyone, and that we, human beings, are responsible for interpreting God’s Torah. Throughout the day, the chanichim witnessed the disagreement between Rabbi Eliezer and the Chachamim (the Sages) about the “Tanur shel Akhnai” — a famous Talmudic disagreement about the status of an oven. This culminated at Shekem, with the chanichim cheering “if we are right, let the walls of the Beit Midrash come down,” and the “walls” came down!
It was a full day of exciting and unique activities, including rollerskating, beach volleyball, and some of the chanichim‘s first visits to “the ancient village of Tzipori” — more details on Machane Stone’s in-house ancient village in coming days.
Machal hiked six miles to the Allegheny River, and finished with a leisurely ride on inner tubes down the river, followed by a camp out.
Kaytana focused on challah today! They baked their own challot, and learned about the mitzvah of hafrashat challah with scholar Bracha Krohn, and they designed and painted their own challah boards!
An amazing start to the new week!
